Luxury Travel to
the Spanish Basque Country
As soon as you take a bite, the flavors explode. What a combination! Briny, spicey, a little fishy, but something else, something mild and creamy. You’re not sure what it is—other than delicious.
Earlier in the day, your local guide taught you “What is in the heart, comes to the tongue.” That describes
your vacation here in the Spanish Basque country perfectly. The people have so much heart. And all that love shows up in the cuisine.
You reach for another pintxos, the local name for small nibbles, a different one this time.
Tailor my trip5 things you don’t know
about the Basque Country
The Basque Country straddles the Spanish French border along the Bay of Biscay. In Spain, nestled between the Pyrenees and the Atlantic Ocean, the main cities of the region include Bilbao, San Sebastián, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Pamplona. The region has a very old and very strong culture, with history going back millennia, which might be why it is so interesting to travel here.
A few interesting things you might now know about the Spanish Basque country:
01
Inhabited since Paleolithic times, San Sebastian has cider orchards dating back to 1014.
02
The language here is Euskera, which is older than the Romance languages of Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Catalan.
03
The first man to successfully circumnavigate the earth, Juan Sebastián Elkano, hailed from the Spanish Basque Country.
04
There are four different wine appellations in the Basque Country: Rioja Alavesa, Txakola de Getaria, Txakoli de Alvas, and Txakola de Bizkaia.
05
‘Toro’ is the Basque version of bouillabaisse, a delicious fish stew including mussels and crayfish along with several different kinds of fish.
The Spanish Basque Country
travel guide
Where to stay in the Basque Country?
As you explore this region’s sumptuous museums, gourmet restaurants and beautiful countryside, you’ll be happy to have an exclusive, highly comfortable home base. AAV has chosen the best for you.
If you like the Ritz in Paris, you’ll love the Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastian; they were both designed by the same architect. The jewel of the Bay of Biscay, this sumptuous hotel is where the elite have vacationed for over a hundred years. The rooms and suites are luxurious, decorated in Belle Epoque or contemporary style, and many have exquisite views of the river and sea. You will find a well-appointed fitness center, two restaurants, and the Dry Bar which serves cocktails and a wide range of Spanish tapas.
Modern, sophisticated, elegant, the Akelarre Hotel is founded on the goal of giving you an exceptional experience. Nestled into a beautiful natural setting, the rooms and suites have spectacular views of the green countryside and blue ocean. Everything here is made of noble materials– natural wood, stones, plush fabrics. There is a fitness center and spa. Something very rare—the Akelarre Hotel’s restaurant has three Michelin stars. The cuisine is inventive and playful, there is actually a head of R&D!
With nine luxury rooms and suites, the beautiful Palacio de Samaniego takes “boutique experience” to a whole new level. Located in a 17th century estate home in the heart of the wine region, guest accommodations are named after different grape varieties, which also influence the décor of each room. The overall feeling of the Palacio is more of a
home than a hotel, with artwork and vases from the Rothschild family’s personal collection scattered throughout. You will enjoy the gastronomic restaurant Tierra y Vino, where Basque classics are revisited with classic French techniques.
Built at the end of the 19th century as a private home, the Villa Favorita combines old world elegance with modern comfort and airy, sun-filled design. The rooms and suites of this boutique hotel overlook the city and the bay, right in the middle of La Concha, the famous promenade. Villa Favorita offers an exceptional wellness center with La Perla treatments. The Amelia Restaurant has two Michelin stars thanks to Paul Airaudo who brings his Italian-Argentinean roots to his cuisine. The amazing tasting menu is updated with each season.
The Villa Soro is a British style family home of the 19th century which has been completely refurbished. The spirit of the hotel’s origins remains: large lounges, high ceilings, fireplaces, carved wooden staircase, a chapel and stained-glass ceiling window. While the atmosphere is familial, the service is attentive and meticulous. You will love the garden, designed by French gardener Pierre Ducasse to make you feel as if you were in the countryside. The Villa Soro has a fitness and wellbeing center, as well as a lovely garden bar which serves meals.
Tailor my tripBest high end experiences in Spain’s Basque Country
Gastronomy tour
Your AAV local guide will take you to see (and taste) all the food highlights in San Sebastien. You will go to the old town, where the pintxos (Basque tapas) were born, to La Bretxa market to see how the locals shop, and to a typical restaurant serving Basque specialties– grilled meats, seafood and local cheeses….
Masterclass
Why just taste when you can also create? Take a cooking masterclass with one of the top chefs in the region. See how a Michelin-starred chef preps his meals, discover the techniques behind the beautiful food, in the R&D kitchen the chef uses to try out his new creations. This is a very special experience.
The Architecture of Bilbao
Your AAV local guide will take you to see stunning examples of the oldest, and the newest, architecture. You will enjoy the old town and its buildings dating back to the 1300s, the San Antón bridge, the neo baroque Théâtre Arriaga (1890), la Casa Montero, the Guggenheim Museum, among others.
Take to the seas
You can really only appreciate the extraordinary coastline of the Spanish Basque country once you’ve seen it from the water. AAV will arrange for a private yacht and skipper to take you to see gorgeous Gaztelugatxe, Mundaka and Gernika, stopping to swim and for a gourmet picnic, complete with local cheeses, charcuterie, and wine.
When is the best time to visit the Spanish Basque Country?
With some of the world’s best art museums, stunning countryside and picturesque villages, the Spanish Basque country has a lot to offer all year round.
the Spanish Basque Country in winter:
You will love San Sebastián day, a, eccentric 24-hour-long drum parade that runs from midnight to midnight, January 19 – 20. Surprisingly, the percussion event is organized by the gastronomic association! Cider season starts in January, too. The Basque have a tradition of drinking it straight from the barrel. This is also a great time to enjoy the many art museums and galleries in Bilbao.
the Spanish Basque Country in spring:
Spring is the best time for nature lovers to discover the region. Known for its beautiful countryside, mountains and seaside, the Basque Country becomes green with spring grass, and blooms with wildflowers. It’s a wonderful time for hiking. April and May are key birdwatching months, especially in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, where you will see storks, spoonbills, and osprey, among other birds and wildlife.
the Spanish Basque Country in summer:
Summer in the Basque Country is a little bit crazy. Crazy fun, that is. In June, the Wine Battle takes place in Haro, the capital of the Rioja Alta wine region. Early July, the running of the bulls, the event which Ernest Hemingway wrote so much about, takes place in Pamplona. End July, you can see the Danza de los Zancos (dance of the stilts) in Anguiano.
the Spanish Basque Country in autumn:
Autumn is a great time to visit the Spanish Basque Country. Most of the tourists are gone, so the museums are less crowded. The weather is milder, making hiking more pleasant. Head to La Rioja for the Wine Harvest Festival. Or go to San Sebastián for the Film Festival, where all the movie stars come to shine.
Travel tips about
the Basque Country
You have entrusted your travel planning to AAV, so you know that the accommodations will be of the highest quality and that your itinerary will cover all the main sights– the Guggenheim in Bilbao, the Museo de Bellas Artes also in Bilbao, the Isla de San Nicolás, the coastline at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, the gorgeous beaches at la Zurriola and La Concha, the Basque Coast Geopark… – as well as a few surprises. AAV always seems to have a little something extra to propose.
What else should you keep in mind?
01
For Game of Thrones fans
If time permits, take a side trip to the chapel San Telmo in Zumaia, where an episode of Game of Thrones was shot. Inside—a beautiful 18th century rococo altar screen. Outside—spectacular countryside. This is a great spot to watch the sun set.
02
Traditional sports
Be sure to see a game of pelota, the traditional Basque sport and “fastest ball game in the world.” If you’re more adventurous, during summer festivals you can try your hand at rural sports, such as wood chopping competitions, drilling holes in rocks by hand or lifting oxcarts.
03
For fashionistas
The Cristobal Balenciaga Museum is a must-see. Located in Getaria, the designer’s home town, this jewel of a museum houses clothing designed by Balenciaga from 1912 – 1971, accessories from 1940 – 1968, as well as personal objects of the designer.
04
Beautiful views
If you’re walking in San Sebastien, be sure to go to Mount Urgull, a hill on the eastern end of La Concha Bay. From the height of 123 meters, you will have an amazing panorama of the city, bay, port, and the lush vegetation of the walking trails.
05
Try the cheesecake
Scorched top, browned bottom, soft creamy center… the Basque Cheesecake is a treat you must try at least once during your vacation. Don’t be fooled, though. This is not a traditional dessert, having been invented in San Sebastian in the 1990s.
Plan
your trip
If you wish to schedule a time to speak about the trip you have in mind, please click on the “Tailor my trip” button and fill in our form. We will get back to you very shortly after reception of your request.